Athletic Trainer Jobs in Illinois
Athletic Trainer jobs in Illinois are consistently active, with strong demand across professional sports organizations, Division I university athletic departments, high school districts, and hospital-affiliated sports medicine clinics at every level from entry-level staff positions through senior director roles. Chicago, Peoria, and Champaign-Urbana are the largest hiring markets, anchored by established employers such as Northwestern Medicine, the Chicago Bears organization, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The most in-demand specialties are sports rehabilitation, concussion management, and orthopedic clinical outreach. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Benefits
- Learn from and be part of an award-winning personal training program
- Join a growing company with opportunities for increased responsibility and career growth
- No existing client base required — we help our trainers build their schedules through our growing client base and established lead generation
- Support from a team with a proven track record of helping trainers build and maintain 30+ weekly client hours
- Ongoing mentorship and professional development to continue sharpening your skills as a trainer
- Positive, friendly, and supportive small-business culture where your ideas and contributions matter
- Paid training
- $27.50-32.50, based on experience
About Us
Danny Gustin Fitness was recently awarded Best Personal Training in Naperville for 2026! We have proudly received this recognition in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2026.
As our client base continues to grow, we’re looking to expand our team with a Certified Personal Trainer who wants to build meaningful, long-term relationships with clients while being part of a close-knit and growing company.
About You
You’re passionate about exercise science, health, and helping people create lasting change. You have a strong foundation as a personal trainer, but you’re also someone who believes there’s always more to learn.
We’re looking for:
- A highly motivated trainer with excellent people skills and friendly, positive energy
- Someone who is organized, dependable, punctual, and a timely communicator
- A coach who genuinely enjoys building relationships with clients and helping them succeed long-term
- Someone who takes ownership of their clients and takes pride in delivering an excellent training experience
- A team-oriented person who wants to grow with and contribute to a thriving small business
- A self-starter who welcomes coaching, collaboration, and continued professional development
Qualifications
- Current Certified Personal Trainer certification required
- 2+ years of personal training experience preferred
- Experience working one-on-one with clients in a gym or personal training environment preferred
- Strong understanding of exercise technique, program design, and client progression
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive fitness assessments with prospective and existing clients
- Design and deliver individualized training programs based on each client’s goals, abilities, and lifestyle
- Manage an existing and growing client base while providing a high level of customer service
- Build strong client relationships that encourage consistency, results, and long-term retention
- Maintain accurate client programming and progress documentation
- Communicate proactively with clients and the Danny Gustin Fitness team regarding scheduling, progress, and client needs
- Participate in ongoing team meetings, education, and professional development
- Build strong client relationships that drive retention and referrals while identifying opportunities inside and outside the gym to continue growing your client base
No existing client base is required. Danny Gustin Fitness helps our trainers establish and grow their schedules, particularly early on. As trainers become established, we encourage them to continue growing through exceptional client service, referrals, relationship building, and community involvement.
Pay: $27.33 - $32.92 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Gym membership
- Opportunities for advancement
- Professional development assistance
Experience:
- Personal training: 2 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Certified Personal Trainer (Required)
Work Location: In person
See All 184+ Athletic Trainer Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Athletic Trainer JobsAthletic Trainer Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Athletic Trainer Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Vasa Fitness20

- Life Time16

- Anytime Fitness6

- Athletico Physical Therapy5

- Crunch Fitness4

Top Industries Hiring
- Sports & Recreation
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in athletic trainer jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois athletic trainer license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- BOC certification (Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer) in good standing
- Bachelor's or master's degree from a CAATE-accredited athletic training program
- Current CPR and AED certification required by most Illinois employers
- Experience with electronic health record documentation and injury reporting systems
- Strong communication skills for coordinating care with team physicians and coaching staff
Athletic Trainer Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an athletic trainer in Illinois?
To work as an athletic trainer in Illinois, you must hold a state license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Candidates must first earn a degree from a CAATE-accredited athletic training program, then pass the BOC certification exam. Once certified, you apply for the Illinois license through IDFPR. Renewals require continuing education hours to keep both the state license and BOC certification current.
How much do athletic trainers make in Illinois?
Athletic trainers in Illinois earn a median of about $64,750 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $49,240 for the lowest 10% to over $93,020 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire athletic trainers in Illinois?
Employers hiring athletic trainers in Illinois right now include Vasa Fitness, Life Time, and Anytime Fitness, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's mix of professional sports franchises, large hospital-affiliated sports medicine networks, and major public universities creates a broad and varied employer base that hires at multiple experience levels throughout the year.
Which Illinois cities have the most athletic trainer jobs?
Chicago, Crystal Lake, and Northbrook have the most athletic trainer openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its professional sports teams, dense hospital systems, and large suburban school districts, while Peoria and Champaign-Urbana are driven by OSF HealthCare's sports medicine programs and the University of Illinois athletics infrastructure respectively.
Are there remote athletic trainer jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Athletic training is a hands-on, on-site role, so most positions require direct presence with athletes or patients. About 2% of athletic trainer openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be administrative, telehealth consultation, or corporate wellness coordination roles rather than traditional clinical or sideline positions.
How can I get hired as an athletic trainer in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is pursuing a graduate assistantship or clinical rotation with an Illinois university athletic department or hospital-affiliated sports medicine clinic. Large systems such as Northwestern Medicine and OSF HealthCare regularly bring on new graduates through structured clinical associate programs. Candidates with completed CAATE clinical hours, a BOC pass, and an active Illinois IDFPR license have the strongest standing, and adjacent roles such as physical therapy aide or strength and conditioning assistant can also open the door.
Where can I find and apply to athletic trainer jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to athletic trainer jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across sports organizations, hospital systems, universities, and school districts. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 184+ Athletic Trainer Jobs in Illinois
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